Ahead of the 2023 governorship contest, Nick Ovuakporie in this piece reviews the demographic and political permutations in Delta State and posits why stakeholders are beckoning on Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to vie for the contest
Delta State is akin to a mini Nigeria with different ethnic groups and people of distinct cultures which includes the Aniomas, Urhobos, Itsekiris, Isokos, Ijaws, and the Ukwuani/Ndokwa people.
The state is blessed with abundant solid mineral resources such as industry clay, limestone, kaolin, silica, tar sand, decorative rocks etc. They are raw materials used for brick-making industries, ceramics, glass manufacturing, sanitary wares, quarrying, chemical/insulators which if properly harnessed, would have provided job opportunities for her fast growing population and teeming unemployed youths. Curiously, these resources remain largely abandoned by successive PDP governors/administrators who rather concentrate on the easy cash offered by a mono-oil economy. No doubt oil has brought trillions of earnings to the state coffers but same has been mindlessly looted by the present PDP administration, thereby foisted underdevelopment on the helpless citizens of Delta state.
The intricate relationship among the diverse people that form today’s Delta state, makes the process of electing a Governor for the state an intriguing one.
It is sad to note, that in spite of the state’s rich natural endowments, many citizens of Delta State are hungry, poor and suffering due to mismanagement of the enormous resources, infrastructural decay, poor/shoddy job execution, and a broken educational and healthcare systems, among others.
Today, under the current PDP administration in Delta State, the burden and privation emanating from bad leadership has been passed on to the struggling population. Pension and gratuities are not paid as at when due thereby sending the state’s retirees to early grave. House rents has become an even greater burden for the citizens, having been completely abandoned by successive PDP administrations who have failed to put in place a working housing policy or regulations to deal with the worsening pains of the average Deltan.
The mismanagement of the monthly allocations from the federation account and the billions of internally-generated revenues accruable to the state coffers has remained the greatest injustice done against the citizens of Delta State who have committed no offence against the state government that ought to be serving them with accountability.
These factors observers say, would have an impact on the 2023 general elections in Delta State, when the truth shall be told to the people as they head to the polls with a focus to choose a trustworthy, progressive minded and detribalized candidate with a clear vision of massive infrastructural development blueprint.
Interestingly, the electorate in whose hands resides the powers to elect a governor, have gone ahead to suggest that currently, no Delta citizen is better positioned to take over the reins of government in the next dispensation than the Delta-born Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. According to pundits, the Senator is perhaps the most experienced politician with an unbeatable track record of developmental strides among the possible contenders to occupy the Osadebay House in 2023.
Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who holds the traditional title of Obarisi of Urhobo-land, has distinguished himself excellently at the red chambers of the National Assembly to the benefit of all Nigerians, including market women in Oleh, Ogor, Udu, Pesu, Okere, Patani, Koko, Okpe, Olomu, Uvwie, Asaba, Bomadi etc and farmers in Agbor, Ibusa, Illah, Abraka and fishermen in Aboh, Burutu, Ughelli, Oghara and Sapele etc, through sound legislation.
It is as a result of these enumerated factors and many more that the people are clamouring and calling on His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to be their Governor come 2023 so as to replicate his endless developmental strides since his election to the Senate and also bring his vast experience to bear in the management of the state resources.
WHY OMO-AGEGE?
Currently, across the polity, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has many things going for him. He is a development maestro, a patriotic progressive and detribalized administrator. As Governor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege would usher in a new vista of hope and opportunities for Deltans who have already lost fate in the current PDP administration in the state. Omo-Agege’s emergence will also improve the relationship and enhance synergy between the Federal and Delta State Governments and thereby, attract the needed democratic dividends currently eluding the hard working and peaceful people of the State.
The Deputy President of the Senate is a leading light in the APC where he has joined like minds to work for a better Nigeria and build an enviable Delta State. He is a progressive who believes that political achievements could only be attained through dialogue and concerted efforts by all stakeholders. Delta State is definitely in need of such a rare gem whose expertise the people look forward to, as Deltans shop for a new Governor who will not reduce governance of a heterogeneous entity like Delta State to a clannish affair where other component parts are relegated to the position of second class citizens.
It is safe to stress that His Excellency, Ovie Omo-Agege is a detribalized leader whose actions, body language and antecedents are devoid of ethnic sentiments. Rather, he has performed exceedingly well in his duties and has established friendships in various communities, local government areas, senatorial districts across Delta State and beyond.
A clear illustration of the above assertion is the composition of his aides, which comprises individuals from all ethnic groups across Delta state and even, the Nigerian federation.
The above attributes have endeared Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to the people in all nooks and crannies of Delta State and the federation in general. He has made tremendous achievements in all critical State and national responsibilities entrusted to him overtime to wit; chairing the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution in which, calls have been made on the National Assembly to initiate bills that will devolve more Powers to the States and address the security challenges in the Country.
Flowing from the above in-depth analysis, it would be safe to say His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has all it takes to mount the pedestal of populist governance in Delta State, come 2023 for the betterment of all Deltans and to the glory of God.
NB: Nick Ovuakporie is Director of media and publicity, APC Delta State.
